Right to Work

LWVAL Action Priority Level III - Issues identified by LWVAL Advocacy Committee and/or State Board or Local Leagues. Monitoring occurs; action dependent on opportunity and available resources.

Click a bill to see sponsor(s), summary (including link to full text), League action and justification for that action, and progress of the bill through the legislative process.

Legend:
thumbs_up_icon.jpg = LWVAL's support for the legislation.
thumbs_down_icon.jpg = LWVAL's opposition to the legislation.
green-right-arrow.jpg = new bill activity; change from previous week's report such as new progress in the legislature and/or League action. Bill may be one newly added to the report. These updates are in green font.

LWVAL has taken a position on these bills:
[none at this time]
LWVAL is monitoring these bills:

HB37 and SB111 (Constitutional Amendment) - Right to work, policy declared, cause of action declared, const. amend. (Identical bills expect as noted in the summary.)

HB37
Sponsor(s): Representatives Mooney, Wingo, Tuggle, Johnson (R), Hill (J), Fridy, Lee, Ledbetter, Wilcox, Sanderford, Clouse, Holmes (M), Boothe, Baker, Greer, McCutcheon, Millican, Martin, Beckman, Garrett, Pettus, Chesteen, Carns, Poole, Shedd, Hubbard and Faulkner

SB111
Sponsor(s): Senators Dial, Pittman, McClendon, Shelnutt, Melson, Allen, Marsh, Williams, Holtzclaw, Scofield, Blackwell, Stutts,
Livingston, Albritton, Waggoner, Holley and Whatley

Summary/Synopsis: This bill proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, relating to the right to work. The amendment would:
  • declare that it is the public policy of Alabama that the right of persons to work may not be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in a labor union or labor organization.
  • prohibit an agreement to deny the right to work, or condition of prospective employment, on account of membership or non-membership in a labor union or labor organization.
  • prohibit an employer from requiring its employees to abstain from union membership as a condition of employment.
  • provide that an employer may not require a person, as a condition of employment or continuation of employment, to pay dues, fees, or other charges of any kind to any labor union or labor organization.

HB37 contains this paragraph while SB111 does not:

Any person who may be denied employment or be deprived of continuation of his or her employment in violation of this amendment shall be entitled to recover from the employer, and any other person, firm, corporation, or association acting in concert with the employer by appropriate action in the courts of this state, any damages as he or she may have sustained by reason of the denial or deprivation of employment.


League Action and Justification: Monitor.
No LWVAL position but presented due to member and public interest in topic.

Bill Progress in Legislature:

HB37

02/02/2016: First Read and referred to the House Committee on Constitution, Campaigns and Elections (CC&E).

02/03/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar with 1 Substitute (173353-2)

02/16/2016: 3rd Reading Pending; Motion to Reconsider; Hammon motion to Previous Question adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Adopt adopted by Roll Call

02/17/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call adopted; Engrossed.

Senate Action:

02/18/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development (FR&ED).

03/01/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar: pending 3rd Read and Favorable from FR&ED

03/10/2016: 3rd Reading Carried Over; Dial motion to Carry Over adopted by Voice Vote; Further Consideration

03/17/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; Rule Petition to Cease adopted by Roll Call vote; Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call; Passed Second House; Enrolled; Clerk of the House Certification; Assigned Act No. 2016-86; Delivered to Secretary of State at 012:33 p.m. on March 17, 2016. Senate: Signature Requested


SB111

02/02/2016: First Read and referred to the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development (FR&ED).

HB174 - Employment, Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right to Work Act, prohibit local governmental entities from requiring minimum wage or other benefits

Sponsor(s): Representatives Faulkner, Mooney, Hubbard, Faust, Gaston, Greer, Boothe, Polizos, Chesteen, Garrett, Carns, Drake, Wingo, Brown, Williams (P), Holmes (M), Fincher, Hammon, Baker, Shiver, Beckman, Moore (B), Clouse, Lee, Ainsworth, Whorton (I), Williams (JW), Rich, Pettus, Ledbetter, Whorton (R), Sanderford, Farley, Butler, Hill (M), Fridy, Weaver, Johnson (K), Nordgren, South, McMillan, Standridge, Beech, Hill (J), Wadsworth, Johnson (R), Hurst, Hanes, Collins, Rowe, Henry, Ball and Ingram

Summary/Synopsis: This bill would establish the Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right-to-Work Act. It would further specify Alabama's status as a right-to-work state and prevent local governmental entities from requiring minimum leave, wages, or other benefits for employees, and provide the Legislature with the authority to establish uniform employment policies and regulations of collective bargaining under federal labor laws.

The bill also states: “If a court determines that any portion of this act cannot be applied to a particular county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state, this act shall remain in full force and effect for every other county, municipality, and other political subdivision of this state.”


League Action and Justification: Monitor to provide member and public information.

LWVAL has no position on right to work; however, the limitations placed on local governments further restrict local government authority. League supports home rule..

Bill Progress in Legislature:

02/09/2016: First Reading and referred to the House Committee on State Government (SG).

02/11/2016: 2nd Read and placed on the Calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from SG

02/16/2016: 3rd Reading Passed; Melton Amendment (174127-1) Offered; Faulkner motion to Table adopted by Roll Call; Henry motion to Previous Question adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call; 3rd Reading Passed

02/25/2016: Passed 2nd House; Enrolled; Clerk of the House Certification;

Senate Action:

02/23/2016: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs (GA).

02/24/2016: Read for the second time and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Read and Favorable from GA

02/25/2016: Passed 2nd House; Enrolled; Clerk of the House Certification

02/25/2016: Rules Petition to Cease Debate adopted by Roll Call; Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted by Roll Call; 3rd Reading Passed; Signature Requested; Assigned Act No. 2016-18; Delivered to Governor at 3:23 p.m.


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